1982 copper and zinc pennies

[twinsrule]

How do you tell the difference without a scale?

 

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[Coins4Cheese]

You could use a Ryedale penny sorter. It sorts zinc from copper. I think it uses a tiny metal detector. But if you don't have one, telling the difference is going to be tricky. Maybe you could see if the color is different, or if it makes a different sound when dropped .

 

[Diver_Down]

The sound will tell the difference, but you can also study the planchet. Copper 82's will always have a defined rim. The zincolns have a flat rim that blends with with the field. Not 100% foolproof, but fairly accurate in my experience.

 

[cdltpx]

Air test with a metal detector? Bounce on the table gives sound. You could place it in sulfuric acid if it is zink you will have only minute wafers that look like a penny but it is just the copper shell.

 

[quiksilver]

scale only costs about 20 bucks

 

[joad]

or you could just cut it in half

 

[FingerGrime]

Drop them and see if they make a ringing sound or not. The ones that ring are coppers. I made my own scale with a tongue depressor and a fulcrum (I used a mechanical pencil eraser holder that I had laying around). Just tape or glue the fulcrum about in the middle of the tongue depressor and put coins on both sides to determine which is heavier.

 

[bula]

I had the same question so I looked on the net. Then I got out my reloading scale and weighed them. The copper weighs 49 grains & the zinc 38 very simple to tell the difference. Now if you can tell me how to tell between a large & a small date without having one to compare I will be happy.

 

[mick56]

I made a scale out of a popsicle stick with a nail glued in the center. Cut the head off the nail. Put a pre 82 penny on one side, and then it is very easy to tell a copper from a zincoln.

 

[drpineapple]

Mick56 I like your scale, very simple.

 

[bula]

Mick56 I like your scale, very simple.

For those of us that do pennys, I found a site that is very helpful. If you have not found it yet go to
lincolncentresourse.com
There is a lot of info on this site.

 

[twinsrule]

Thanks for the answers
bula: the small dates are small, and the large dates are sort of thicker and more bold. I have found way more large dates.